Had to, when you believe your source is anything other than God, He takes it.
While it may be hard, it is the response of believers. And you truly see His hand in your life when it happens.
Quick story:
I was working my good govt job teaching at the local school, and was licensed to do so temporarily while I was getting my credentials through a local university. My principal assured me that all she needed to do was to tell them Im in a state approved program, and only have so many hours to finish and everything would be ok. Well I went down to central office, near the last day of school and I just had to ask. The guy went to check on a few things, when he came back he asked me to sit down. *Dun Dun Dunnnn* I was terminated for failing to complete my degree program in time. When I look back on it, I only had one class that they cared about me finishing, but it wasnt available till the fall semester. I started to worry, even teared up a bit. I called every credit card company I owned to ask if they had any forgiveness plans, or some type of waiver for paying until I got my job back, nothing. They wouldnt negotiate with me, because I was an on time paying customer, which is still not a good thing, because its debt I shouldnt have had.
I called on friends, relatives, etc. to help me see my way through, but I went to church that night, and a sister there (a very beautiful one might I add) was preaching on Fear/Worry. Man that thing spoke to me, because I was there, and I saw no way out. I read back over my notes from her sermon, and let it minister to me a little more, and prayed about it. Heres what happened.
June 2012:
Lost job
God told me to scale back my life (pay for things one time, cut down on expenses, etc)
July 2012:
Got offered a work study (where all I did was edit video for a professor that knew somehow that God didnt have me there to just shuffle papers)
Checks kept coming in from old job
Applied for unemployment but got denied because checks kept coming in from old job
Photography jobs picked up
Church gigs picked up
Principal suggested I apply for a substitute teachers license because it was quicker and it would hold my spot on the staff (doing this represented a 65% drop in income)
Aug 2012:
checks kept coming in til about the 2nd week from old job
There was one week where I received 5 job offers but didnt do anything to get them
End of Aug 2012:
I returned to teaching as a sub, making only $125/day or so (and no holiday pay/benefits/vacations)
checks stopped so there was a few weeks with no income
Sept 2012:
I finally got first check from subbing
I finally got my first and last unemployment check
Throughout the entire time, I only spent $300 of previously saved money (including paying for college)
Dec 2012:
finished that one class
Jan 2013:
got rehired with a raise that recognized my Masters
Feb 2013:
Got a regular paying church gig that I didnt look for
We have to do it Gods way, there is no other way for us. I never stopped tithing, and never stopped believing that Jesus could work it out. My way wouldnt have worked, it would have involved a lot of debt and a lot of worry. His way prepared me for the next phase of my life in a way that I never could have dreamed. I mean, I forever thought about being out of debt, it gave me so much worry, I felt I couldnt breathe, but even that is now a possibility because of His instructions. Take no thought.
